The Hairy Ape by Eugene O'Neill

 

 

The Hairy Ape is a 1922 expressionist play by American playwright Eugene O'Neill. It is about a beastly, unthinking laborer known as Yank, the protagonist of the play, as he searches for a sense of belonging in a world controlled by the rich. At first, Yank feels secure as he stokes the engines of an ocean liner, and is highly confident in his physical power over the ship's engines and his men. 

Any Discussion about modern tragedy would be incomplete without considering Eugene O'Neile's contribution to enrich the field of drama. 'The Hairy Ape' points out the misery of mankind who has lost his identity in the technologically advanced modern world. The main idea in the play is in the wast universe to whom the man belongs, the search for identity is the main point. Here, man does not live by bread alone, but spiritual help and well being are also necessary. Man can be lonely in a crowd, the tragedy of Yank is the tragedy of millions in the modern age.Yank, the central character of this play possesses several characteristics of the 'Ape'. He resembles to Ape as he is very strong, a well muscledman with hair on his chest. Miss Douglass calls him, "Filthy Beast", the hairy ape. This remark changes life of Yank, so the title is apt to the play. A drama is designed in act. 'The Hairy Ape' is short play that is devided into 8 scenes. The plot is well built.

                   Since, 'The Hairy Ape'  is a play, it has limited scop of settings action take place in the play mainly at few places. The play opens at the stock room and furnance room where the eorkers fad the coal to the fire. Later on, the setting shift from ship to fifth Avenue and then the prision on black wells ireland, then action take develop at I.W.W. office and the last scene  takes place in teh Zoo in the cage of Gorilla. In this short play. O'Neill presents a variety of settings which also serves as a symbol.As a whole, this tragedy enriched the tressure of American tragedy by its approprate title, suitable themes, well constructed plot, well portrayed characters, its variety of settings, technique of using symols in the play. O'Neill also used his unique style in this tragedy.